Flash light



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,659,569

, F. L. HUMESTON FLASH LIGHT Filed March 5, 192.7

INVENTOR HIS ATTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 21 1928.

V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE} FREDERICK I1. HUMESTON, OF NEW HAVEN,CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO WINCHES- TER BEPEATING ARMS COMPANY, OF NEWHAVEN, CONNECTICUT, A CORIIPORA-v spare bulbs in its place, thus TION OFCONNECTICUT.

FLASH LIGHT.

Application filed March 3, 1927. Serial No. 172,227.

This invention relates to battery hand lamps of the type including acasing for the battery, a lamp bulb, a switch mechanism for controllingthe electric current through the battery and the bulb, and a bottom endcap for closing the bottom end of the casing and holding the battery inproper position within the casing. The present invention moreparticularly concerns supporting means carried by the bottom end cap ofa hand lamp of the type described, whereby such lamp may be convenientlysupported from a hook, peg or other support.

It has been found desirable and convenient to provide hand lamps of thetype described with suitable means, such as a loop or ring, for use inhanging the lamp vertically from a hook or peg, the lamp casingextending downwardly from such support. A supporting means of this typeshould be so mounted that it does not in any way interfere with theoperation and handling of the lamp, while at the same time it is readilac-' cessible when it is desired to hang the amp on a support. 1

It has been proposed heretofore to provide means for carrying one ormore spare lamp bulbs within a batte hand lamp so that whenever the bulbwhich is connected in circuit with the battery becomes broken or burnedout, it is merely necessary to remove the useless bulb and insert one ofthe placing the lamp again in condition for use.

With the above and other considerations in mind, it is proposed inaccordance with the present invention to provide a battery hand lamphaving an improved form of sup porting means mounted on the bottom endcap thereof, and, more specifically, it is proposed to provide asupporting ring or loop of this t pe which is so mounted and ar object's.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hand lampof the type described including improved means for carrying a spare lampbulb within the bottom end cap t ereof.

means.

casing 1 and the base of the lowest cell of Other specific objects,advantages and characteristic features of the invention will becomeapparent as the description thereof progresses.

In-describing the invention in detail, reference will be made to theccompanying drawings, in which;

Figure 1 is a sectional side view of a portion of t e casing of a handlamp together with the bottom end cap embodying the lamp supportingmeans and the spare bulb carrying device of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a view of the lower end of the bottom end cap, showing thelamp supporting means;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1, showing the lampsupporting means open and in use; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the bottom end cap, taken along the line Hof Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, the lamp comprises ametallic battery casing 1, carrying abattery 2 composed of one or moredry cells arranged end to end in series connection in the usual and wellknown manner. A bottom end cap 3 closes the lower end of the casingl,being secured thereto by a screw threaded engagement therewith as shown,or by other suitable The electrical circuit between the the battery 2 iscompleted through a sprin 4 and a spare bulb carr ing device 5, whicparts will be hereina er more fully described.

Referring now more particularly the lamp supporting means comprising oneimportant feature of the present invention, the bottom face of the endcap 3 isprovided with a-depression or recessed portion'6 of.

general diamond shape as shown in Fig. 2. This depression 6 ispreferably pressed or stamped in the sheet metal of which the cap 3 isformed, and is so disposed that the surface of the bottom of the capextends around this depression in an unbroken plane. An extension orpocket 7 is formed at one corner of the depression 6, and oppositelydisposed openings 8 and 9 are provided 1n the vertical walls of thisextension. Two inwardly projecting ledges or extensions 10 and 11 areformed at the up er edges of the two adjacent side walls of t edepressionS remote from the pocket 7 as shown in Fig. 2.- A supportingloop or ring 12 of general diamond shape is mounted within thedepression 6.in the cap 3, this loop being semred to the cap by means ofthe engagement of the outwardly turned ends 13 and 14 of the p 12 w ththe oppositely disposed openin s 8 and 9 respectively in the pocket 7 ofthe depression 6. The loop 12 is formed of a suitable resilient materialsuch as spring steel, and is of such a size that it fits snugly withinthe sidesof the depression 6 and is engaged and overlapped by the ledges10 and 11 .when in the closed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 4.

The depression 6 is formed with enlarged rounded corners, 15, 16 and 17,which extend back away from the corners of the loop 12 when in theclosed position asshown 'n Fig. 2. The corners 15 and 16 permit he loop12 to be compressed as it is snapped pa t the ledges 10 and 11, theopposite corner. 18 and 19 of the loop moving'slightly' into the corners15 and 16 respectively of the depresion 6 during this operation. Theenlarged pocket or corner 17 of the depression 6 provides a convenientspace by means of which the operator may insert his finger I nailbeneath the loop 12 to pry this loop out of the depression 6 when it isdesired to employ the loop for supporting the lamp.

. When "thelamp is to be used portably, the loop 12 is folded down andsnapped into the depression 6, the ledges 10 and 11 holding this loopfirmly in place as shown in Figs. 1, '2 and 4. It should be particularlynoted that when the loop is snapped into the depression 6, all parts ofthe loop 12 are entirely within the plane of the botf om face of the endcap 3 and the loop is thus completely protected against'accidentaldisplacement by contact with the clothing or hands of the operator orwith other ob-' jects. This complete" protection of the loop is a highlyimportant feature. If the loop 12 were at any point exposed in such aman- 4 ner that it could be accidentally opened,

this loop might catch on objects and the lamp might be drawn from theoperators hand or such opening of the loop might in various other waysinconvenience the operator in handling the lamp. It should be furthernoted that with'the loop 12 folded down within the recess 6, theexterior surface of the bottom end cap 3 is unbroken when viewed fromthe side of the lamp, and in this manner, a lamp of pleasing appearanceis provided. With the loop 12 folded into the depression 6, an unbrokenplane surface is presented around the rim of the cap 3, as shown inFigs. 1 and 4 and the lamp may be placed on end on a table or otherplane surface if desired.

It is often desired to hang the lamp'on a-hook or peg so that a lightbeam there swung out at substantially right angles to the end of the cap3 and may be passed over a hook, nail or peg as shown in Fig. 3. Thelamp may be conveniently hung up in this manner when not in use.

The contact spring and spare bulb carrying device of the invention willnow be described. The bottom end cap 3 is formed with a substantiallysemi-circular groove 20 extending around the inner cylindrical wallthereof at a point just above the depressed portion 6 as, clearly shownin Fig. 1. This groove 20 is entirely separate from the loop carryingdepression 6, and may be knurled on th@ outside of the-cap to provide aconvenient surface which may be gripped. by the operator in removingthe-cap. A spiral spring 4 is provided in the cap 3, its lowest coilbeing of a slightly larger diameter than the inside diameter of the cap3 whereby this coil may be slightly com? pressed, inserted within thecap, and snapped cup is preferably formed of drawn sheet metal, and issecured to the spring 4 by a rivet 21 as shown, or by other suitablemeans.

Secured within the cup 5 is a supporting clip C comprising two flexiblefingers or tangs 22 having arcuate depressions therein for engagementwith the base 23 of the lamp bulb 24. The clip C may be secured-to thebase of the cup 5 by means of the rivet 21 whiclr secures the cup to thespring 4, or other means may be provided for this purpose. A U-shapedslot 25 is preferably provided in the cylindrical wall of the cup 5,.

and the extreme end of'the lamp bulb base 23 extends through this slotwhen the lamp is in position between the fin ers 22. The

lampbulb may be easily an quickly removed from the clip 0 b pressingupwardly on the extreme end 0 the base 23 which extends through theslot25. It is not essential that the slot 25 be provided as, if the cup5 is large enough in proportion to the size of the bulb 24, this bulbcan be removed by inserting the fingers at either side thereof Withinthe cup.

It is to be understood that the present in vention is not limited to theparticular embodin'ient illustrated and described, but includes suchmodifications thereof as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the bottom end cap with its associated supporting loop maye formed with or without the bulb carrying cup, and the manner in whichthe supporting loop is securedto the cap may vary in certain respectsfrom the specific construction shown.

I claim:

1. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured toone end of said casing and sion of substantially diamond shape, aresilient loop of substantially diamond shape hinged within saiddepression, and ledges on the walls of said depression for overlappingsaid loop and retalning said loop within said depression, saiddepression having enlar ed rounded corners whereby said loop may esprung past said ledges.

2. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured toone end of said casing and having a central depression of substantiallydiamond shape in the end thereof, a resilient loop of substantiallydiamond shape hinged in an enlarged corner of said depression, and meansfor retaining said loop within said depression comprising at least oneextension on the wall of said depression for overlapping said loop.

3. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, anend cap for the casing, a spring member within said end cap, and a sparebulb support compris ing ,a cup fixed to said spring member and havingintegral cylindrical side walls for engaging said battery, said cuphaving an opening in the cylindrical wall thereof through which the endof the spare bulb base protrudes, and means fixed within said cup forgripping the base of the spare bulb.

4. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured toone end of said casing and having a substantially diamond shaped centraldepression therein, said depression having a pocket at one cornerthereof, a substantially diamond shaped 100 of resilient material hin edin said poc et andmovable to a position within having a central depres=said depression, and ledges on the walls of said depression forretaining said loop within said depression, said depression havingenlarged corners to permit the deformation of said loop as said loop issprung past said walls of said depression opposite said hingeconnection, said ledges retaining said loop within said depression whennot in use, and said depression having enlarged corners to permit thecompression of said loop as said loop is sprung beneath said led es.

6. In a hand lamp, the combination of a battery casing, a cap secured toone end of said casing and having a central depression in the endthereof and means secured to said cap for hanging said casing from afixed support comprising a loop of resilient material hingedlysecuredwithin a pocket extending from the wall of said depression towardthe edge of saidcap, said loop being slightly sma ler than saiddepression and being adapted to fold within said depression when not inuse, and ledges on the walls of said depression for releasably retainingsaid loop within said depression.-:

-7. In a hand lamp, the combination of a casing, a battery therein, anend cap forthe casing, a spring member havingone end thereof securedwithin said end cap, and a spare bulb support comprising a cup having abase portion secured to the free end of said sprlng member and acylindrical side portion adapted to engage the battery with its freeedges, whereby the spare bulb and the support are disposed between thefree end of the sprin member and the battery. In testimony w 'ereof Iaflix my signature.

FREDERICK L. HUMESTON.

